Spring-roller.



No. 667,302. Patented Feb. 5, |901.

0. M. EDWARDS. f

SPRING oLLl-zn.

(Application led Dec. 15. 1899.)

(N o M o d e l A mmssgs: f M, Oliver M. [n1/enfer f by All?,

UNITED STATES "ATENT OFFICE.

OLIVER M. EDWARDS, OF SYRACUSE, NEV YORK.

SPRING-ROLLER-l SPECIFICATION fcrmng part of Letters Patent No. 667,302, dated February 5, 1901.

Application filed December 15, 1899. Serial No. 740,398. (No modela To vall whom, t *may con/cern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER M. EDWARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Syracuse, county of Onondaga, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Window Sash and Curtain Operating Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming a part of the same.

My invention relates to devices wherein a single roller is employed to sustain or automatically raise a window sash or curtain by the winding upon such roller flexible material interposed between the roller and sash or the winding on the roller of the material of the curtain itself,which, of course, isflexible, the sash or curtain in its ordinary use being uncontrolled by automatic dogs or catches acting upon the rollers. Single rollers with springs and means by which the tension of the springs could be changed or adjusted to a certain extent only when the roller is removed from its mountings have been used; but, so far as I know, one part of such means had always to be held stationary in its mountings when the roller was in working position and other parts of such means had to be thrown out and held out of operative action at all times except when the roller was removed from, or in the act of being removed from, or put into its brackets or mountings, atl which time these portions are temporarily thrown into operative action. This requires that the roller shall be placed in its brackets or mountings in a particular way and to be removed therefrom and returned whenever any change in adjustment of tension is to be made, vwhich change must be in fixed and predetermined amounts. The many removals and replacements oi' the roller in its mountings increase the danger of improperly placing the roller therein, which improper placing has to be guarded against, as it makes ac` cideuts liable to occur instead of guarding against their occurrence. These rollers thus used have the body or barrel composed of a metal tube, with suitable interior supports and with means by which the curtain or exible material 'interposed between the roller and sash can be attached thereto. Within the barrel or body there are a coiled spring and spindle, one end of the spring heilig attached to the barrel and the other end to the spindle. This spindle extends loosely through one end of the barrel and it is provided with a disk having a single notch or recess adapted to rel ceive the free end of a dog or pawl attached to the barrel in proper position to be made to engage with such notch. This spindle eX- tends beyond the disk with its notch and is flattened to be received in a suitably-shaped slot in a bracket attached to the window; frame and to be held stationary therein against rotation. The body or barrel of the roller rotates upon the spindle at one end and upon a fixed journal or bearing working in a bracket at its opposite end. The roller is always placed in its brackets or mountings with the notch in the spindle underneath, so that the dog or pawl when once released from the notch in the spindle is held by gravity away from such notch and cannot engage therewith during the ordinary use of the roller. Thus gravity not only throws the dog or pawl out of operative action, but also holds it out until the dog or pawl is lifted upward against' the force of gravity by the hand of the operator, which is done whenever the `roller is to be removed .from its mouutings.

This construction of rollers thus used and the ease with which they can be removed from their brackets and replaced therein without disturbing said brackets, and consequently the normal working position of such roller on the window, as well as the manner of adj usting the tension of the springs of these rollers, are well known to those familiar with their use in the manner explained. Again, single rollers with springs and means by which the tension of the springs could be changed or adjusted without removing the rollers from their brackets or mountings, which support them in working position on the window, havel been made; but, so far as I know, there has been no provision made for removing the rollers from their brackets or mountings without first detaching the brackets, with the rollers mounted therein, from the window, and then removing more or less of the adjusting means from the roller or their brackets.

My invention has for its object the provision of means by which the tension of the springs of such rollers maybe changed or ad- Ioo justed to any degree of nicety desired without the removal or disturbance of the rollers in their brackets or mountings by which they are held in working position, and yet such rollers for other purposes can be readily' removed from such brackets or replaced therein without disturbing them or their attachment to the window. Also when the change in the tension of the springs is once made it can be maintained until another change is desired.

My invention consists, Iirst, in the combination ot' a roller having a body portion or barrel of the general charac terdescribed,with bearings adapted to be received in brackets or supports adjacent to the opposite sides ot' a window-frame, brackets or supports therefor, a rotatable part arranged between the brackets, which receive the supporting ends of the roller, so as to rotate in substantially the aXial line ot rotation of the roller, a spring one end of which is connected to the roller and the other is connected to the rotatable part, and means connected with the rotatable part by which it may be rotated while the roller remains in its Ysupports and permit it. to be removed from and replaced in the brackets without disturbing their attachment to the window, and, second, inthe combination of a roller having a barrel and spindle of the general character described, a spring one end of which is connected to the barrel and the other is connected to the spindle, a bracket provided with means adapted to receive in an endwise direction the extending end of the spindle and rotate the same to the desired extent and hold it in place until it is desired to again rotate the spindle, and a bracket adapted to receive the bearing on the opposite end of the roller and to rotate therein; and it also consists in the combinations of devices hereinafter described, and particularly pointed out in the claims.

1 have shown in the drawings embodiments of my improvement as the same may be applied to sustain and lift the sashes of carwindows; but it is obvious that it may be employed in constructions for sustaining and lifting the sashes of the windows of other structures than railway-cars or in sustaining and lifting of curtains or other things in a similar manner.

Like letters of reference wherever they occur indicate corresponding part-s in the several iigures of the drawings. K

Figure 1 shows an elevation of a portion of the window of a car, illustrating the roller supported in brackets attached to the opposite sides of the window-frame, with the sash partly raised, by the winding of the web of material partially on the roller, the sash and frame being broken away, as seen. Fig. 2 shows a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 shows in plan View the portion ot' ythe roller, the bracket, and the window-frame at the right-hand end of Fig. l, the bracket and frame being in section on line 3 3 of the last-named figure and a portion of the part designated as B broken away. Fig. 3 shows one form of constructing the bracket C seen at the left of Fig. 1. Fig. 4L shows in side elevation a modification of the construction illustrated in the preceding igures, and Fig. 5 shows in section on line 5 5 the construction seen in Fig. et. Fig. 5tL shows a coustruction of locking-detent which may be added to the constructions shown iu Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, if desired. Fig. 6 shows in elevation and partly in section another modification, the sash being partly raised and the frame and sash being broken away, as is the casein Fig. 1. Fig. 7 shows in vertical section on line 7 7 the construction illustrated in Fig. 6; and Fig. S shows, partly in longitudinal section, still another modification, the roller herein shown being adapted to be received in brackets or supports similar to those seen in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 or of other desired form.

rlhe rollerAin Figs. 1, 2,and 3 is constructed like those hitherto described,except that there is no dog attached to the barrel or disk with a notch attached to the spindle, as is customary with those rollers. This roller A has a body portionor barrel A', and within its interior there is a loosely-mounted spindle A2,

one end of which extends or projects from the body portion A'. This extending or projecting portion of the spindle is iiattened on two of its sides, as seen in Fig. 2, where this {iattened portion is seen in cross-section, and it is designated ct, and upon this portion between the supporting ends of the roller there is received a disk B, with an oblong opening in its center adapted to fit over the flattened portion dof the spindle, also as seen in Fig. 2. The periphery of this disk B is provided with gear-teeth, and it forms a worm-gear, with which the worm B' engages, as seen, so that as the worm is rotated it rotates the disk B, which disk forms a rotatable part arranged between the supporting ends of the roller and its bracket. The worm B is mounted in bearings in the bracket C, as seen in Figs. 1, 2, and '3, and it is free to revolve therein. As there seen, this worm is provided at one end with squared head b, adapted to receive a socket-wrench, by which the worm B' can be turned in either direction, accordingly as it is desired to tu rn the disk B. The spindle A2 extends loosely through the end of the body portion or barrel A' and turns freely therein. The projecting end of this spindle projects beyond the disk B, as seen in Fig. 3, and it is cylindrical at this point and is received in a corresponding recess in the bracket C and turns freely therein whenever the spindle is turned by the rotation of the disk B. This extending end of the spindle forms a bearing A3, on which the barrel of the roller revolves as the flexible material is wound thereon and is unwou nd therefrom, and it also when received by the bracket C supports that end of the roller. At the opposite end of the barrel there IOO IIO

is another bearing A4, cylindrical in form and which is received in a suitablel recess in a bracket C', attached to the window-frame in position to properly receive the bearing A4 andsupportthatendoftheroller. Ifdesired, the recess in the bracket C' may be provided with an opening, as seen in Fig. 3, by which the bearing A4 may be passed down and into the recess. Within the body portion or barrel of the roller there is a coiled spring D of considerable length, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. l, one end of which is connected to the rollerat d and the other is connected to the spindle at d in a well-known manner. The spring D is the preferred forni, owing to its long continued and successful use; but I do not wish to limit my invention to this particular form of spring, as it is obvious to those skilled in the art of springs that some other form mightserve the purposes of the present improvement. To the barrel A there is secured one edge of a web of cloth or other suitable flexible material E, so as to be wound thereon and unwound therefrom whenever the roller A is rotated in one direction and then in the other. The opposite edge of this web or flexible material E is attached to the top edge of a window-sash F, mounted to move up and down in a guideway in the windowfraine in a well-known manner. This sash is provided with the usual glass used in carwindows. Each of the brackets C and C is provided with buffer projections c and o', respectively, against which the uppermost portion of the sash may strike when it is raised sufficiently for this purpose. These buffer projections are not necessary for the present improvement, but they may be used, if desired. In applying these rollers to a window the brackets are properly secured in place upon or adjacent to the opposite sides of the window-frame. The roller, with its spring unwouud and not under stress or tension, is taken, the disk B applied to the flattened portion of the spindle, and then the extending end of the spindle is entered in the recess of the bracket bearing the worm B, and the bearing A4 is passed through the opening into the recess of bracket C', when the roller is supported by the brackets O and C; but the spring D is not under tension. By applying a suitable socket-wrench of any well-known construction to the squared head b of the worin B it can be rotated in the direction to put the spring under tension to any desired extent without removing the roller from its supports or brackets or disturbing its oper ative relation therein, when the tension of the spring can be tested and, if desired, another change or adjustment be made, and this cati be repeated as often as desired until the amount of stress or tension required is obtained, when the socket-wrench maybe removed. If for any reason other than adjustment of the tension of the spring it is desired to remove the roller from its supportingbrackets, the worm is to be turned in the opposite direction from that just explained until the spring is unwound andis no longerunder tension, when the roller can be removed and, when desired, can be replaced, as before explained, and the spring again placed under the required tension.

Instead of the disk B being mounted on the spindle, as just explained, it may be mount ed in bearings on the bracket C, as seen in Figs. 4 and 5, and made a part thereof, so that the gear-teeth on the disk always remain in operative relation to the worm B and the plain flattened end ot' the spindle be received in an endwise direction in a suitably-shaped recess in the center of the disk, which disk is free to rotate in its hearings in the bracket C while being held and supported therein. 'lhe disk B in Figs. 4 and 5 is constructed with a hub on eat-.h side, as seen in Fig. 5, and the longer of the two hubs is received in the back plate of the bracket C, and the shorter hub is received by a plate m, secured to the front of this bracket, which is held in place by two screws, as shown in Figs. et and 5, or otherwise, as preferred. This construction permits the rollers hitherto in use, by the substitution of new brackets after the dog has been removed, to be used and have the tension or stress of the springs adjusted or changed while the rollers remain in their brackets or supports and without disturbing their operative relation thereto. It also permits of a compact and simple construction and one in which all of the parts are held in place without danger of being disarranged in application or at other times. As seen in Fig. 5, the recess in the disk B may be tapered from the rear to the front or entrance end, if desired. rlhis permits of the entrance of the flattened end ot' the spindle when not fully in the axial line ot' the disk and its recess and also to securely hold the spindle in operative relation to the disk so long as any substantial portion of it enters such recess. This recess may be otherwise formed, it' desired; but I prefer the tapered forni here shown for the reasons stated.

If for any reason it may be thought desirable that the disk B be positively held against rotation, a detent of the'form and arrangement shown in Fig. 5 or other desired form and arrangement may be used. I prefer the form and arrangement of detent S, (seen in Fig. 54,) because it is automatically thrown into engagement with the worin B by spring action and is thrown outof engagement therewith upon the application of tite socketwrench to the squared head b. The position of this detent S when disengaged from the head b is indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 5a. As shown, this detent S is loosely pivoted to the body of the bracket C and at its free end is provided with an opening or slot S, adapted to straddle the head b, as seen, when two opposite sides ot' the head are substantially parallel with the sides of the opening or slot in the detent S. A spring S', one end of IOO IIO

IZO

v sion.

which is attached to the detent and the other is attached to the bracket, always tends to bring the detent into engagement with the head b, and the spring yields to permit the detent to be pushed upwardly out of engagement with the head by the end of the socketwrench in its application thereto.

If the iiexible material to be interposed between the roller and the window-sash be in the form of two narrow strips, one near each end of the roller, or in the form of chains or straps, as it may be, then the construction shown in Figs. 6 and 7 may be employed. As here shown, the body portion or barrel A10 is in the form of a plain solid cylinder, which maybe of wood, if desired, and it is providedY with two plain journals,`one at each end, which may be made integral with the barrel, and they are adapted to enter brackets or supports adjacent to the opposite sides of the window, as shown, or in any other Way desired. The barrel'is here shown as connected to the sash by two narrow strips of flexible material E E', and they wind upon and unwind from the barrel in raising and lowering the sash, essentially the same as the single wide web of cloth does in the construction shown in Fig. l. In Figs. 6 and 7 the spring D5 is coiled around the exterior of the barrel, with one end d5 attached to the roller and the other end d10 attached to an annular-shaped rotatable part or disk B5, as seen at Fig. 6, the disk B5 being arranged between the supporting ends of the roller and its brackets. This annular disk B5, as here shown, is provided with worin-gear teeth on its periphery, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, and it is mounted in a case or support B20, attached to a portion of the window, as clearly indicated in Figs. 6 and '7, so as to be held in operative position and be free to rotate therein, its axial line of rotation being substantially that of the rotation of the roller A5, the disk being substantially concentric thereto. The `case or support in which the annular disk B5 rotates can be removed from the window-frame and replaced thereon without in any way disturbing the attachment of the brackets which support and hold the roller in place, and the support B20 is on its lower portion provided with an opening through which a worm B10 may engage with the gear-teeth on the disk, and it is also provided with portions which serve to receive the bearings formed on the worm, as shown. The worm in this case, as in the others, is provided with a squared head b5, by which it can be turned and the rotatable part or annular disk B5 rotated to the desired extent and the spring D5 be wound up and put under the required stress'or ten- As seen in Figs. 6 and 7, the worm is arranged horizontally instead of vertically, as in Figs. l to 5. This worm may be arranged in any desired relation to the horizon; but the arrangement seen in Figs. l to 5 is the preferred arrangement when the improvement is applied to the sashes of car-windows,

seneca as shown herein. In this construction (seen in Figs. 6 and 7) the roller, with the annular disk B5 and its supporting-case B20, encircling the roller, is placed in its supports or brackets, and the case B20 is secured in place, as shown, when the spring D5 can be placed under stress or tension to the required extent, as before explained. The mode of operation in each case is essentially the same so far as concerns the changing or adjusting of the tension of the spring, while the roller remains in its supports or brackets. To remove the roller from its su pporting brackets, the case B20 is detached and the roller removed from the brackets without disturbing their attachment to the window, and consequently the roller can be replaced therein-in the same relation to the window-frame and its sash as before.

Instead of making the barrel of a solid cylinder, as in the construction -shown in Figs. 6 and 7, it may be constructed of a tubular form ont of metal, as in the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, and as seen in Fig. 8. Also instead of mounting the spindle A200 loosely in the interior-of the barrel, as in Figs. l to 5, it may be formed integral with such interior portion, as seen in Fig. 8, so as to move bodily with the barrel,as if integral therewith. In the construction illustrated in Fig. S the spindle A200 has the spring D0 coiled around it, and it receives the rotatable part or disk B0, which, as seen, is arranged between the supporting ends of the roller and brackets and is free to rotate on the spindle, and it is held in place endwise of the spindle by the action of the spring D8 or otherwise on one side and by the bracket C on its other side, the disk being constructed with a portion which is received within the barrel at its end adjacent to the disk, and this portion holds it substantially concentric with the disk and spindle, so that the axial line of rotation of all three is substantially the same. One end d8 of the spring D8 is attached to the spindle A200, and thus to the roller, and the other end d100 is attached to the rotatable part or disk B5,so that upon the rotation of B8 on A200 the spring D8 is wound up or unwound, accordingly as the disk B8 is rotated. This disk B5, as in the other cases, is supplied with worm-gear teeth adapted to engage with a suitable worm and be rotated thereby.

I have shown herein gear-teeth upon the rotatable parts or disks B, B5, and B8 adapted for use with worms; but I do not wish to limit myself to thisform of teeth, although it is the form that I prefer; but any of the known and desired forms of gear-teeth may be used, of course the device engaging therewith to -be adapted for use for this purpose. I prefer that the gear-teeth be formed integral with the rotatable part and have so shown them; but they may be otherwise formed, if desired. Also what would not be technically known as gear-teeth may be employed, be-

IOO

cause the character of theimprovement does not depend on the special form of teeth or other devices by which the rotatable part is made to rotate except in those claims wherein such forms of teeth are specifically mentioned. The gear-teeth upon the rotatable part or disk and the worm or other device engaging with such teeth form means bywhich such rotatable part or disk is rotated. These means may be mounted wholly upon one of the brackets, as seen in Figs. 4and 5, or only a portion of such means-as, for instance, the Worm-may be mounted on one of the brackets, as seen in Figs. l, 2, and 3; or, if desired, no portion of such means need be mounted on the brackets, as seen in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings.

The roller shown in Fig. 8 may be used in place of the roller shown in Fig. 1, assuming that the supports or brackets seen therein be changed in size so as to receive the journals of the roller of Fig. S, and when this is done the mode of operation of the parts, so far as concerns the changing or adjusting of the tension of the spring and the removal of the roller from and its replacement in the brackets, is the same as in the case of the roller seen in Fig. 1.

Various modifications in the construction and arrangement of the parts here shown will be suggested to those skilled in this art which will, in all essential respects operate as the construction and arrangement of parts here shown and described operate. Therefore I do not wish to limit myself to the specific forms and arrangements of parts or devices shown.

What I claim as new is- 1. The combination, substantially as set forth, of aroller having a barrel and bearings at its opposite ends, which bearings are adapted to be received in brackets adjacent to the opposite sides of a window-frame, brackets adapted to receive the bearings, a rotatable part arranged between the brackets which receive the supporting ends of the roller, a spring one end of which is connected to the roller and the other is connected to the rotatable part and means connected with the rotatable part and adapted to rotate the same, whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted while the roller remains in its brackets and the roller may be removed therefrom without disturbing the attachment of such brackets to the window-frame.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel and bearings which are adapted to be received in brackets adjacent to the opposite sides of a windowframe, brackets adapted to receive the bearings, a rotatable part arranged between the brackets which receivev the supporting ends of the roller, and provided with gear-teeth by which it may be rotated, a spring one end of which is conected to the roller and the other is connected to the rotatable part, and means engaging with the gear-teeth on the rotatable part adapted to rotate such part, whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted while the roller remains in its brackets and the roller may be removed therefrom without disturbing the attachment of such brackets to the Window.

3. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel with a bearing formed on one end, a spindle forming a bearing for the other end, a spring one end of which is connected with the barrel and the other with the spindle, brackets adapted to receive the spindle and the bearing at the other end of the barrel, a rotatable part arranged between the brackets and connected with the spindle, and means connected with the rotatable part adapted to rotate such part and hold it in position, whereby the tension ofthe spring may be adjusted while the roller remains in'its brackets and the roller may be removed therefrom without disturbing the attachment of such brackets to the window.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel and bearings at its opposite ends, which bearings are adapted to be received in brackets adjacent to the opposite sides of a window-frame, brackets adapted to receive the bearings, a rotatable part arranged between the brackets which receive the supporting ends of the roller adapted to rotate in substantially the axial line of rotation of the roller, a spring, one end of which is connected to the roller and theother lis connected to the rotatable part, means connected with the rotatable part by which it may be rotated while the roller remains in its brackets, and a detent arranged and adapted to engage With and disengage from some portion of the means by which the rotatable part is rotated, whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted and said means locked against movement until the detent is disengaged therefrom.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel with a bearing formed on one end, a spindle forming a bearing for the other end, a spring one end of which is connected with the barrel and the other is connected with the spindle, brackets adapted to receive the spindle and bearing at the other end of the barrel, a rotatable part arranged between the brackets and connected with the spindle, and means a portion of which is mounted on the bracket which receives the spindle and is connectable and disconnectable from the other portion, which means are adapted to rotate the rotatable part, whereby the tension of the spring may be adjusted while the roller remains in its brackets and the roller maybe removed therefrom without disturbing that portion of the rotating means mounted on the bracket or the attachment of such brackets to the window-frame.

6. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel with a bear- IOO IOS

IIO

IISl

ing formed on one end, a spindle forming a which is connected with the barrel Iand the other is connected with the spindle, the spindle and bearing being adapted to be received by brackets adjacent to opposite sides of a Window-frame, a bracket provided With a rotatable part mounted in bearings therein, Which part is adapted to engage with the spindle and rotate the same, the bracket also being provided With means adapted to rotate such part, and a bracket adapted to receive the bearing on the other end of the barrel,

whereby the spindle may be rotated While the roller remains in its brackets and the spindle is removable from the rotatable part Without necessarily disturbing the operative relation of the rotating means or the attachment of such brackets to the Window-frame.

7. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel with a bear- `ing formed on one end, a spindle forming a bearing for the other end, a spring one end of which is connected with the barrel and the other is connected with the spindle, the spindle and bearing being adapted to be received by brackets adjacent to the opposite sides of a window-frame, a bracket provided with a rotatable part in the form of a Worm-gear mounted in bearings therein, which part is adapted to engage with the spindle and rotate the same, the bracket also being provided with a Worm engaging with said gear, and a bracket adapted to receive the bearing at the opposite end of the barrel, whereby the spindle may be rotated While the roller remains in its brackets and the spindle is removable from the rotatable part Without necessarily disturbing the operative relation of the worm and gear or the attachment of such brackets to the Window-frame.

8. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel with a bearing formed on one end, a spindle forming a bearing for the other end and having an eX- tending portion, a spring one end of whichris connected with the barrel and the other is connected with the spindle, the spindle and bearing being adapted to be received bybrackets adjacent to the opposite sides of a window-frame, a bracket provided with a rota table part mounted in bearings therein and having a recess adapted to receive the extending end ot' the spindle and thereby rotate the same, and also provided With means adapted to rotate such part, and a bracket adapted to receive the bearing at the opposite end of the barrel, whereby the spindle may be rotated while the roller remains in its brackets and the spindle .is removable from the rotatable part without necessarily disturbing the operative relation of the rotating means, or the attachment of such brackets to the win- ,dow-frame.

9. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a roller having a barrel with a bearing formed on one end, a spindle forming a bearing for the other end and having an eX- tending portion, a spring one end of which is connected with the barrel and the other is connected with the spindle, the spindle and bearing being adapted to be received by brackets adjacent to opposite sides of a Windowframe, a bracket provided with a rotatable part mounted in bearings therein and having a recess of tapered form adapted to receive the extending end of the spindle and thereby rotate the same, and also provided with means adapted to rotate -such part, and a bracket Y OLIVER M. EDWARDS.

Witnesses:

CLIFFORD A. MACDONALD, WM. GOLLHOFER. 

